FALLING FOR MY TUTOR

Chapter 9

ANGELA'S POV

I went to bed excited and nervous at the same time. Excited for the fact that Kevin's crush on Racheal was no longer there or rather had reduced a tad bit and nervous because I wondered how Kevin's confrontation with her would turn out. I hoped it didn't result to being a big deal.

I pulled my duvet over my shoulder smiling with satisfaction knowing that I had finally opened Kevin's eyes before going into a deep slumber the next minute.

The next day reached too fast as though in the flicker of my eyelids.

Realising time was not on my side,I darted to the shower and shortly after got dressed.Then went to the living room and kissed mother goodbye as was my daily routine.I did not even have time to bite on anything.

Taking a long pause at the door to collect myself, I finally walked in class, not daring too look up at all.

I stole a glance when I reached the back and saw an empty chair right at the corner were I had been sitting for the past one week. By all means I wanted no attention on me.

As usual Racheal and her friends came to class last. Even after being warned severally, they clearly were shaken by nothing.

Nearly thirty minutes in and the teacher for math had not attended his class.We had already termed the class as bounced and had started packing up in preparation to leave.

"Announcement! Return to your seats please, "guess who? Kevin was standing in front of the class poker-faced.

Why in front of the whole damn class? If given the chance I would dash out and not attend any other class the whole day but his eyes bored on me, never leaving.

In his head I knew he thought he was doing it for me but this was going to be the biggest humiliation. As I was narrating the ordeal to Kevin it came to my realiziation how dumb I sounded, now I had to sit and have it narrated all over again. Ground swallow me please.

"Karma is a b***h as you all know. And being nice costs you what? A dollar?, "gazing around the whole room, "it costs you f*****g nothing. "

I had known Kevin for close to ten years and this side of him is one thing I hadn't seen before , until today. I was just as baffled as everyone else.

Kevin's appearance would make him easily pass for a shy, polite boy. But clearly it had betrayed him, or rather,deceived us.

"Rachel f*****g Brown, "locking his eyes with hers as suspense filled the room.

"Why do you always have to be a b***h? "everyone now mumbling,trying to ask around what this was all about.Everyone but me, obviously.

Rachel's reaction was quite expected. She guffawed at his remarks.

"Oh for f***s sake!What's funny? "you've cussed so many times Kevin, you've got to calm down.

The tension in me was steadily easing up until I heard, "you know what you did to Angela. You will apologize right here, right now, "he commanded through gritted teeth.

Oh my God. Why did you have to do this to me Kevin. Everyone had now turned back ,their eyes sharply piercing me. I fidgeted on my seat countless times.

"You're making a fool out of yourself.Please sit down, "Racheal said in between laughs.

Seeing that Kevin was not letting her mockery intimidate him, she rose to her feet.

"If I have wronged her let her be the one to confront me,that is,if she dares, "laughing yet again.

Stop poking your nose into people's businesses.Let everyone leave their lives, isn't that right? "lifting her hands in the air seeking for affirmation.

And every one joined her. I couldn't believe them, but I was not surprised.

I had warned Kevin.Everyone worshipped her. The girls wanted to be like her and the boys wanted to get her.

Kevin tapped his forehead in annoyance before giving his parting shot, "until it happens to you one day, you'll never understand. "

"And Angy? Don't think of coming for practise today by the way. Just never come,"she shouted across the room.

Come for practice? If fetching water was part of practice then I wanted nothing to do with it. I was high key happy I didn't have to ashame myself like that anymore. I wondered why I didn't quit sooner.

In as much as everyone booed him, to me, he was my hero. No one had ever stood up for me like that. He genuinely cared for me, or maybe there was more to it.

Everyone left for lunch and we were just the two of us.

"My stomach is rumbling and if you think I'll believe you're trying to skip lunch because of what has just happened, you're fooling yourself,foodie,"I joked approaching his desk and he rose his face with a warm smile plastered on it.

"You know me too well, "rising from his desk casually letting his hand go round my shoulder.

"Ladies first, "taking a bow when we reached the door, "I'm such a gentleman.

I widened my eyes to my realisation.Oh my God! All this years he had been sending signs.

Oh poor boy, he must have been trying hard. I never noticed.I internally slapped my forehead.

We went to the dining room and after getting our food we went to our usual spot,the nerds spot where we were joined by other nerds from different classes.

By this time I was utterly aware of every move Kevin made on me. I watched how he constantly touched my palm which was resting on the table as he made stories trying so hard to make me laugh.

"Thank you for today, "smiling on his face. I had waited for the perfect time to thank him properly .We had been left on the table just the two of us.

"And I love you too,"I added.

He chuckled in disbelief grinding hard on his food, "that sounds odd. You've never said that to me before. But I love you too bestie,"

Bestie he said? You dummy.Stop fooling around.

"Okay jokes aside, I love you too, "he hunched his right eyebrow.

"What? "nearly spilling his drink.

"How didn't I ever notice? The way you touch me, the way you ensure I'm always in my best mood, how much effort you put on me to see my grades go up. I could go on and on, "changing my tone to get him to realise how serious I was.

"You mean love as in love? "still not believing.

I nodded in response,smiling lightly to get him comfortable.To ensure him it was a safe space to unleash his emotions. I knew he had been waiting for this moment.

"So? "clasping my hands in front of me.

"Look Angy. We've grown up together and caring for you automatically comes out naturally.Don't get things wrong, "

Well that caught me by surprise, disappointment instantly patched on my face.

"You know there's a difference between loving someone and loving how someone loves you,so which is which in this case? "

"I've been crushing on you for years, "leaning back on my chair,face up,"you never noticed?"

"I never did.And I don't want to say I feel the same way then we get into something serious and I end up hurting you, that will totally break us. You know that? "rubbing on my hand but that didn't help at all. I had made a fool out of myself. Why did I confess?Smart move Racheal.